The group carefully walked to the science labs. They didn't know for sure that all of the attackers had been taken out, but since they saw no one, their spirits were lifted. Ford slowed his pace to match Jayde, who was lagging behind the others. "How are you doing?" He asked softly.
She broke out of her thousand yard stare and shrugged. "Fine I guess. I... I just wish this didn't make me think of... what happened when I was a kid."
"Would it help to explain it a little more?" He prodded.
"Yeah, I think it might." She sighed. "My father is... was a lawyer. He did a lot of environmental work. There was this big case, and he lost it. The guy he was representing kinda flipped out. There were a few threats made and then nothing. We had security detail but after a few months, it was lifted. My mom decided to take me to the park one weekend, I had be bugging her about it for a while.'' A faint smile crossed her lips. "My dad met us there and it was really wonderful, just to hang out as a family. When we were leaving, after a few hours... two men came out of nowhere and forced us into a van. I didn't know them, but Dad did."
"They took us to some kind of warehouse. My folks tried to protect me, but I knew things got bad. They would take my father away for hours at a time and when he came back... he couldn't stand by himself." She shook her head and a breath caught in her throat. "They would just leave us there with no food for days, when we were sure we were alone, we started to work on weapon. My mom found a small tear in the old mattress we using. We could see a spring poking out so she dug it out and we sharpened it on the floor."
Jayde slowed her step to a crawl and closed her eyes tightly. "One day, when they had already taken my dad... they tried to take me too. My mom fought them... and one of the men strangled her in front of me. I... just watched her die." She swayed on the spot, Ford wondered if he should stop her from continuing, but she started again. "I don't know what came over me but I pulled the spring from it's hiding place, and I just ran at the guy... and I started stabbing him anywhere I could reach."
"The other one... he just looked around like he didn't understand what he was seeing. He walked out the door, leaving it open, and disappeared. I was able to find my father where they left him unconscious, got help, but it was to late for my mom." When Jayde opened her eyes again, she saw that Katie and Ortiz had joined Ford in staring at her in horror.
"They never caught him. That's why I had anxiety problems, I thought I'd see him where ever we went. That led to me cutting. My father had met Kristin years before at an environmental summit, and they became friends. He told her my about problems, and she suggested the camps." Jayde shrugged, "I guess it helped."
The three adults looked at her in amazement before Ford cleared his throat. "Why don't we keep going." They nodded and fell in step behind him. Katie slug a friendly arm over the girl's shoulders and steered her to the middle of the pack. There was no way she would allow this kid to be hurt again.
The door to the science labs was mostly closed, because it was one that pried open, they couldn't fully secure it. The three adult and teen walked into a room and found themselves face to face with several guns. The weapons dropped as soon as the frightened scientists and crew saw who it was. "Status?" Ford asked.
"I got the call through sir, but there isn't anyone around for miles. It will take several hours for help to come." Rylie reported. "The good news is that they've agreed to not blow us out of the water since Lucas has control of the warheads now."
"Lucas? Where is he?" Ford asked, looking around the room, expecting to see the blonde head.
Rylie hesitated, "I better let him explain that one." She moved to the vid-screen and pointed at it with a thumb. She looked into the screen, "Lucas, are you there?"
Yeah, I'm back. Things are pretty tense on the bridge commander, I think York has flipped his lid.
Ford looked around the room again, "what is this? Where is he?"
"Um..." Jayde started, "he's in the computer."
It was very rare for Jonathan Ford to be struck completely mute. This was something no one gathered had seen in a long while. He stared at Jayde and then turned to Rylie, his eyes were wide and full of shock. Ortiz chuckling softly behind him finally unstuck his tongue. "Are you sure it's him?"
"Yes." Jayde said firmly. Rylie nodded her assent.
Ford ran a hand over his face. "Alright, um... Lucas, what is happening up there?"
Doc and Captain Bridger got him talking but I think it made it worse. The guy is having some major mood swings.
"Any injuries?"
Ben and Tim are pretty beaten up but they'll live. Doc looks like she was slapped pretty hard, I think she's fine though. My body looks like someone tossed it down a flight of stairs.
"Kristin will get you fixed up. How many are there?"
Six, the Captain is wearing handcuffs but no one else. There are a lot of guns up there, they're all pointed at our people. I told him I wouldn't help him anyone was hurt but I don't think he believes me.
"Where are you? Um, your body?"
Next to Ben, he's keeping an eye on me.
"Can you get a message to any of them? Without York or his men seeing it?"
Only Tim, he's at his station, but he's pretty far away from everyone else.
"Ok, we'll have to work something out. I don't want to rush them and get anyone killed. Keep an eye on them."
Yes, sir.
The small screen went blank again, Ford let out a breath, considering his options. "Is this everyone who isn't locked in a room?"
Rylie nodded, "Lucas said he was going to let him all out, but I think he got distracted by what is going on on the bridge. He's really worried."
"When you get him back on screen, tell him to leave the doors locked and to make sure the siphons are ready to go on when we need them." He turned to Ortiz, "ready to cause a disturbance?"
"I've learned a lot from Ben, I'll do my best." He smirked. "What's your plan?"
"Same way we got rid of the last terrorists. If they're pinned in the bridge and we're too deep for weapons to launch, we can wait for days for rescue. Maybe they'll just give up when they see the ship flooding." Ortiz's face lit up when he understood. "I'll need your help down below. Ben nearly got washed away when he opened up the seals last time."
Katie pointed to the door. "Water can get in here, we can't open a door and have it shut properly again."
"You're right, thank you Katie." A smile teased the edges of his lips when he said her name. Katie just cocked her head, puzzled. "Ok, tell Lucas he needs to open one door, all of you can go there. The ward room should be big enough, make sure you grab some supplies before you leave. I don't like the idea of you going to close to the bridge, but it may the only way to keep you alive if the siphons don't work."
Ford checked his weapons and with a nod to Katie, he and Ortiz left the room. "Won't this leave everyone on the bridge still in danger?" Jayde argued.
Katie chewed her lip before answering. "Yes, but there isn't a lot else we can do right now. If we run in there guns blazing, some one will be caught in the crossfire. And if York finds a way to get control of the systems back, the UEO will have to take us out. This will give us a lot more time." Jayde didn't argue, but still looked uneasy.
York was breathing still breathing heavily since his speech. Bentley finally worked up the courage to approach his boss. "Sir, we may have a problem."
"What?" He snapped.
"No one has checked in for the last half hour."
York's eyes grew large and wild. "And you're just telling me this now?!"
Bentley backed up quickly, "well... uh... there was a lot of stuff happening, the computer talking to you and then you talking to them." He pointed, hoping to shift some blame.
"Oh..." York's voice went deadly quiet again. He turned to Nathan calmly, "you and your little trick were trying to slow me down." He picked up his revolver, "what are you planning Bridger?"
"Nothing, I was brought here right after I woke up, you know that." Nathan spoke evenly, trying not to rile the man up again.
"Chars, Bentley, I want you in the hall. If you see anyone, bring them in here. Permission to shoot to kill if they fight with you. It's time to show the good captain how serious I am, he seems to have forgotten."
"Yes, sir."
Ward room is open for you, and the siphons look good.
"Thank you Lucas." Katie told the screen. She grimaced slightly, "and just so you know, if this is some crazy prank you and Ben cooked up, I will kill both of you."
Understood Commander. Katie could actually feel him smirk through the vid-screen, and grimaced again.
"Rylie, I want you and Jayde the rear, you can both handle a gun if some one comes up behind us. I'll take the lead." Katie directed, double checking her weapon. She made sure Jayde and Rylie had their own and waited until everyone got into position as ordered. "Time to head out, I want absolute silence when we near the bridge."
